Shortcake, long ball for Matsui

As he entered the stadium on Thursday, Hideki Matsui received a strawberry shortcake from the Japanese media.

He celebrated his 34th birthday again in the sixth inning, when he cracked a grand slam off Joe Blanton to account for all of the Yankees' runs in a 4-1 victory over the A's. Blanton, who was visibly upset with home-plate umpire Paul Nauert after the inning, recorded his ninth loss, tying him with Detroit's Justin Verlander for the league lead.

Blanton is the first Oakland pitcher to have nine losses by June 12 since Carlos Reyes dropped his ninth decision June 11, 1996, and he is 1-7 at home this year, surpassing Chad Gaudin's team leading loss total from last season. Lifetime against New York, Blanton is 0-3 with an 8.18 ERA.

Derek Jeter started off the sixth with a low liner to second baseman Mark Ellis' left. Ellis dived and knocked the ball down but couldn't come up with it in time to make a play at first. Blanton walked Bobby Abreu, the next batter, on a close pitch on the inside part of the plate, and he also walked Alex Rodriguez (who is 4-for-7 with two homers against Blanton lifetime).

Blanton barked at Nauert after the inning, but after the game, he declined to comment about the strike zone.

Oakland Athletics pitcher Joe Blanton throws to first base to make the out on New York Yankees' Derek Jeter in the first inning of a baseball game Thursday, June 12, 2008, in Oakland, Calif. (AP Photo/Ben Margot) less

Oakland Athletics pitcher Joe Blanton throws to first base to make the out on New York Yankees' Derek Jeter in the first inning of a baseball game Thursday, June 12, 2008, in Oakland, Calif. (AP Photo/Ben ... more

Photo: Ben Margot, AP

Photo: Ben Margot, AP

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Oakland Athletics pitcher Joe Blanton throws to first base to make the out on New York Yankees' Derek Jeter in the first inning of a baseball game Thursday, June 12, 2008, in Oakland, Calif. (AP Photo/Ben Margot) less

Oakland Athletics pitcher Joe Blanton throws to first base to make the out on New York Yankees' Derek Jeter in the first inning of a baseball game Thursday, June 12, 2008, in Oakland, Calif. (AP Photo/Ben ... more

Photo: Ben Margot, AP

Shortcake, long ball for Matsui

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"A couple of pitches didn't go his way that inning, but as many strikes as he throws, he always has some borderline pitches," Oakland manager Bob Geren said.

Matsui was next, and Blanton threw a 1-1 changeup away that the Yankees designated hitter parked in the seats in right.

"It wasn't a bad pitch, it was almost like he sat on it," Blanton said. "I just went to the well one too many times. I was just trying to make something good happen."

The right-hander has allowed at least one home run in each of his past six starts, the longest such streak of his career. Blanton has given up seven homers in the past 382/3 innings after allowing three in his first 611/3 innings.

It was the fifth slam of Matsui's career, and his first hit off Blanton in seven career at-bats.

Though Oakland's offense reverted to the same quiet state it exemplified Tuesday night, rookie outfielder Carlos Gonzalez drove in Ellis from second with a one-out single off Andy Pettitte in the second inning. Gonzalez has a five-game hitting streak, during which he is batting .368.

The A's had a good opportunity just before the Yankees' big inning. With two men in scoring position and one out, Pettitte struck out Bobby Crosby, and Jack Cust hit a blast that died in front of the wall in left.

Crosby, who said Pettitte got him with a backdoor cutter, added, "It was a bad at-bat, I was trying to do too much. I think if we score one or two runs there, it's a different game, and I've got to do a better job. I felt that was the turning point."

Second-year outfielder Travis Buck was not in the starting lineup on Thursday for the first time since being recalled at the end of May, a possible indication of today's roster move when Ryan Sweeney comes off the disabled list. Buck has homered three times in 11 games but is batting .171 since rejoining the team. He is batting .081 at home and his average against left-handers is .139, one reason he didn't start Thursday.

Buck's numbers aren't the only thing working against him. This year's A's are even more packed with left-handed hitters than usual, although designated hitters Frank Thomas and Mike Sweeney are on the DL. Ryan Sweeney also hits lefty. Though Emil Brown has slumped much of the past month, hitting .186 in the past 26 games, the veteran outfielder is right-handed, as is defensive replacement/pinch runner Rajai Davis, whose skills will be particularly valuable during interleague play over the next week at San Francisco and Arizona.

In the final game of his rehab appearance with Triple-A Sacramento, Ryan Sweeney (bruised foot) went 2-for-5 with a double to put his average in the eight-game stint at .412. Infielder Donnie Murphy (elbow) began a rehab stint with Class A Stockton, and he was 1-for-3 with a double; he is likely to report to Sacramento tonight along with reliever Santiago Casilla (elbow strain).